The Chemistry instructors at my school recognized that many of our students have forgotten basic mathematical skills that are essential to their success in math courses as well as in the chemistry course. In order to help them restore their tarnished skills, I will be starting each class with a “Miner Math Moment” which will present a single problem to be worked by each student. The students will be held accountable for doing the problems, sharing solutions, and for periodically turning in packets of the worked problems.

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I’m anxious to see how this works in our classes. The assumption that students necessarily retain all of their basic skills as they proceed to higher level courses is just plain wrong. Even an orchestra will start each day with basics such as scales. Professional athletes constantly practice the basics, even at the highest level of sport. Why should we expect that things would be so different for mathematics. So, here we go!